Faith Forum

The Digital Wellness Lab is on a mission to understand and promote positive and healthy digital media experiences for young people, from birth through young adulthood. Dr. Rich has a unique combination of experience and expertise in medicine and media. As “the Mediatrician,” Dr. Rich recently released The Mediatrician’s Guide: A Joyful Approach to Raising Healthy, Smart, Kind Kids in a Screen-Saturated World, a science-backed approach to give parents the confidence they need to raise a child well (and to raise a well child) in the digital age.Read more about Dr. Rich here: https://digitalwellnesslab.org/team/michael-rich/

The Reverend John Roberts, Rector of Church of the Transfiguration in Bat Cave, North Carolina, will give an update regarding the ongoing disaster relief, recovery, and rebuilding following Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina. Learn what is still needed and how we can help.

At its heart, generosity is not just about giving—it’s about living in grateful response to all that God has given us. Members of the Christ Church Vestry lead a conversation about generosity as a spiritual practice: a way of aligning our lives with God’s abundance and sustaining the life of the Church we love. Especially in challenging times, generosity becomes an act of perseverance—a way of holding fast to hope, community, and God’s call to love.

A leading voice in the revival of Celtic spirituality, Newell invites us to listen for the sacred rhythm that pulses at the heart of all things. In a world marked by fragmentation and fatigue, his teaching calls us to a deeper harmony—one that sustains the soul and strengthens our capacity to persevere in love.

Michelle Icard is nationally recognized author, speaker, and educator. With over 20 years of experience working with middle schoolers, parents, and teachers, Michelle brings deep insight and practical wisdom on how to navigate the complex world of adolescence with grace, humor, and clarity. In this Faith Forum conversation, we explore themes from her books, including Middle School Makeover (2014), Fourteen Talks by Age Fourteen (2021), and 8 Setbacks That Can Make a Child a Success (2023), with guidance on how faith, connection, and conversation can shape the spiritual and emotional wellbeing of our families. 

What does Lent ask of us and how might it shape our hearts and lives? Lent is a season of reflection, repentance, and renewal—a time to prepare our hearts for the joy of Easter by drawing closer to God through prayer, fasting, and acts of love. The Reverend Dr. Russell Levenson is the recently retired Rector of St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Houston—the largest Episcopal parish in the country. A gifted preacher and pastor, Russ is the author of Preparing Room: A Lenten Journey and will offer insights into how we can walk more deeply in the way of Jesus this season. Don’t miss this opportunity to reflect, prepare, and embrace the journey of Lent with one of the Church’s most thoughtful voices.

Americans are now living decades longer than previous generations. These added years offer exciting possibilities but also raise crucial questions. How long will I live? Will I be healthy? Will I lose my memory? How long will I work? Will I have enough money? Where will I live? How will I die? The Reverend Chip Edens talks with Debra Whitman, a globally recognized expert on aging, about her groundbreaking book, The Second Fifty: Answers to the 7 Big Questions of Midlife and Beyond.Whitman is an economist and expert on aging issues with an extensive background in policymaking and research. As Chief Public Policy Officer for AARP, Debra leads global policy and research to help communities, lawmakers, and the private sector improve our lives as we age. Previously, as staff director for the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, Debra worked across the aisle to increase retirement security, lower health care costs, protect vulnerable seniors, make the pharmaceutical industry more transparent, and improve our long-term care system. As she approached her 50th birthday, Whitman wanted to delve deeper into why so many Americans struggled to live well as they aged. And she began to wonder what was in store for her own second fifty. Suddenly, the questions she’d been studying for years became personal. In her groundbreaking book, Whitman provides a roadmap for navigating, and celebrating, the second half of life.

Tyler J. VanderWeele, PhD, is a professor at Harvard University specializing in the study of wellbeing and its determinants. His research focuses on how factors like spirituality, social relationships, and a sense of purpose influence health and wellbeing. He often explores how faith and community engagement can be vital to an individual’s holistic health, providing a scientific perspective on spirituality.

Life brings storms—some expected, others that shake us to our core. In this deeply moving conversation, we will hear the candid story of Jane and Mike Harrell. Jane, a physician dedicated to caring for patients, and her husband, Mike, a commercial real estate developer, will share their journey through faith, marriage, parenting, and profound loss. Their beloved daughter, Jane, died of brain cancer—a reality that reshaped their lives and deepened their reliance on Christ.This class is for anyone who has faced or is facing a storm—whether in grief, uncertainty, or struggle—seeking the peace only Christ can give. Join us as we listen, learn, and find hope in the midst of life’s hardest moments.

The Reverend Connor Gwin hosts an engaging panel discussion with Lisa Cashion and Matthew Alexander exploring the keys to building and maintaining healthy relationships. This conversation will delve into emotional, spiritual, and practical aspects of fostering connection, communication, and mutual respect. Whether you’re navigating romantic, familial, or friendship dynamics, this session offers diverse perspectives and actionable advice to nurture meaningful and fulfilling relationships.Lisa Cashion is a licensed counselor, certified life coach, and wellness educator.Matthew Alexander is a licensed psychologist specializing in the treatment of couples. He has been a couples therapist for the past forty years and is considered by many in the Charlotte region to be the “go to guy” for couples in distress. He is also an internationally acclaimed educator and public speaker.

In this conversation with Laura Belcher, CEO of Habitat for Humanity, we delve into the many ways Habitat is adapting to the changing needs of the housing crisis, from offering a path to home ownership for low-income families to deploying volunteers to Western NC after Hurricane Helene.Laura Belcher is known for her work in affordable housing and community building, focusing on providing affordable, safe housing options for families in need. She is passionate about the intersection of social justice and housing, highlighting the importance of accessible housing in achieving community stability and equity.

Dr. Damon Tweedy is an author and psychiatrist. His latest book, Facing the Unseen: The Struggle to Center Mental Health in Medicine, is a powerful and urgent call to center psychiatry and mental health care into the mainstream of medicine.As much as we all might wish that mental health problems, with their elusive causes and unsettling behaviors, simply did not exist, millions of people suffer from them, sometimes to an extreme extent. Many others face addiction to alcohol and other drugs, as overdose and suicide deaths abound. Yet the vast majority of doctors receive minimal instruction in treating these conditions during their lengthy medical training. This mismatch ignores the clear overlap between physical and mental distress, and too-often puts psychiatrists on the outside looking in as the medical system continues to fail many patients.In Facing The Unseen, bestselling author, professor of psychiatry, and practicing physician Damon Tweedy guides us through his days working in outpatient clinics, emergency rooms, and hospitals as he meets people from all walks of life who are grappling with physical and psychological illnesses. In powerful, compassionate, and eloquent prose, Tweedy argues for a more comprehensive and integrated approach where people with mental illness have a health care system that places their full well-being front and center.

Lisa Damour, psychologist and author of The Emotional Lives of Teenagers and two other New York Times bestselling novels, joins us for a special Faith Forum. The Reverend Elizabeth Walker facilitates the conversation as we explore how to support teens and their families with wisdom, empathy, and faith.Dr. Lisa Damour is a clinical psychologist specializing in child development, particularly in adolescent and teen mental health. She is a bestselling author and a regular contributor to publications like The New York Times and The Atlantic. She provided expertise and insight to the creators of the hit movie Inside Out 2. Her books, including Untangled and Under Pressure, focus on helping parents and caregivers understand and support young people’s emotional lives.

A large part of the Episcopal Church's work has been about Becoming Beloved Community through Truth Telling, Proclaiming the Dream, Practicing the Way, and Repairing the Breach. Learn about our very own Beloved Community that has developed over the last few years. Panelists from St. Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church and Christ Church share their stories that highlight opportunities for fellowship and action.

As part of our city's work to address challenges in affordable housing, we are partnering with the Housing Impact Fund, whose wrap-around approach is drawing attention nationwide for its use of existing infrastructure and community navigators. Doug Ey leads a Faith Forum discussion with Nelson Schwab, Erskine Bowles, Mark Etheridge, and Adelaide Martin of the Housing Impact Fund, as well as the community health worker (navigator) whose position in an underserved East Charlotte community was funded by our Transforming Hearts campaign.

An interactive exploration of how we view our own wellbeing and that of the community around us. Many of our community partners and other organizations offer a small ministries fair for you to explore.

Is it possible to embrace suffering as a privilege, rather than a punishment? After surviving a near-fatal brainstem stroke at age 26, life for Katherine Wolf changed forever, and so did the way she viewed God, the world, and herself in it. She encourages us to trust a known God with an unknown future, and offers practical insights into surviving anything by redefining how we think about everything.Katherine Wolf is a survivor and advocate who leverages her redemptive story to encourage those with broken bodies, broken brains, and broken hearts. She and her husband, Jay, live in Atlanta with their 2 sons, James and John. Together, Katherine and Jay have co-authored three books, Hope Heals, Suffer Strong, and Treasures in the Dark: 90 Reflections on Finding Bright Hope Hidden in the Hurting.

As we launch our new Center for Wellbeing and Care, Becca Stevens will help us think about how we sharpen our focus on community wellbeing and what we as a church can do, based on her own story as a survivor, her experience with abused women, and her belief that love is the strongest force for change in the world.Becca Stevens is a nonprofit leader, entrepreneur, priest, survivor, and founder and President of Thistle Farms. She has founded 13 nonprofits and justice enterprises, mentored another 60, and has raised over $75 million to support them. Becca has authored 12 books and sold over 300|000 copies. She has served as chaplain at St. Augustine’s Chapel on Vanderbilt’s campus for almost 30 years. Becca has been featured on PBS NewsHour, The Today Show, CNN, ABC World News, named a CNN Hero and White House Champion of Change, and holds five honorary doctorates. Drawn from 25 years of leadership in mission-driven work, Becca leads important conversations across the country with an inspiring message that love is the strongest force for change in the world.

There is a young adult mental health crisis in America. So many 20-somethings are struggling — especially with anxiety, depression, and substance use — yet, as a culture, we are not sure what to do about it. Meg Jay and The Reverend Elizabeth Walker discuss why the 20’s are the most challenging time of life and essential skills for handling the uncertainties surrounding work, love, friendship, mental health, and more during that decade and beyond.Meg Jay, Ph.D. is a developmental clinical psychologist who specializes in twentysomethings. She is the author of The Twentysomething Treatment: A Revolutionary Remedy for an Uncertain Age, the cult classic The Defining Decade: Why Your Twenties Matter and How to Make the Most of Them Now, and Supernormal: The Secret World of the Family Hero. Her books have been translated into more than a dozen languages and her work has appeared in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, and on NPR, BBC, and – maybe most important for her audience – TikTok.

Are you discouraged by our divided|angry culture|where even listening to a different perspective sometimes feels impossible? If so|you’re not alone|and it doesn’t have to be this way. John Inazu and The Reverend Chip Edens discuss the surprising path to learning how to disagree in ways that build new bridges with our neighbors|coworkers|and loved ones — and help us find better ways to live joyfully in a complex society.John Inazu is the Sally D. Danforth Distinguished Professor of Law and Religion at Washington University in St. Louis. His latest book is Learning to Disagree: The Surprising Path to Navigating Differences with Empathy and Respect (Zondervan|2024). He is also the author of Liberty’s Refuge: The Forgotten Freedom of Assembly (Yale University Press|2012) and Confident Pluralism: Surviving and Thriving Through Deep Difference (University of Chicago Press|2016)|and co-editor (with Tim Keller) of Uncommon Ground: Living Faithfully in a World of Difference (Thomas Nelson|2020).Inazu is the founder of The Carver Project and the Legal Vocation Fellowship and a Senior Fellow at Interfaith America and the Trinity Forum. He holds a B.S.E. and J.D. from Duke University and a Ph.D. in political science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His weekly newsletter|“Some Assembly Required|” can be found here.

What happens when our bodies face chronic stress? The alarming rise of stress-related conditions|such as heart disease|diabetes|and depression|show the price we’re paying for our high-pressure living and increased stressors in the world|but what can we do about it? The Reverend Connor Gwin explores these questions with Dr. Lawson Wulsin|a professor of Psychiatry and Family Medicine at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine specializing in psychosomatic medicine. Wulsin is the author of Toxic Stress: How Stress Is Making Us Ill and What We Can Do About It (April 2024)|which explores the fascinating medical and social mysteries of our stress response system and how stress affects illness.Lawson Wulsin has been a professor at the University of Cincinnati for the past 35 years. His writings explore the lifelong dance between the mind and body|and the power of human attachments in everyday life and healing. Here he shares these explorations collected from the lessons of clinical care|teaching|and research. In addition to his most recent book|Wulsin is also the author of Treating the Aching Heart: A Guide to Depression|Stress|and Heart Disease (2007).

Miroslav Volf is the Founder and Director of Yale Center for Faith and Culture and Henry B. Wright Professor of Theology|Yale University Divinity School|New Haven|CT. He was educated in his native Croatia|United States|and Germany. He earned doctoral and post-doctoral degrees (with highest honors) from the University of Tuebingen|Germany. He has written or edited 15 books and over 70 scholarly articles. His most significant books include Exclusion and Embrace (one of Christianity Today’s 100 most important religious books of the 20th century); After Our Likeness (1998) in which he explores the Trinitarian nature of ecclesial community; Allah: A Christian Response (2011)|whether Muslims and Christians have a common God; and A Public Faith: On How Followers of Christ Should Serve the Common Good (2011). He is actively involved in many top-level initiatives concerning Christian-Muslim relations and is a member of the Global Agenda Council of the World Economic Forum.

The Reverend Connor Gwin hosts a conversation with Christian Wiman.Christian Wiman has authored four books of poetry; published a memoir, My Bright Abyss: Meditation of a Modern Believer; a collection of essays; and is also an anthologist of several works, including Zero at the Bone: Fifty Entries Against Despair (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2023). Wiman is also widely known for his tenure as editor of Poetry magazine, from 2003 to 2013. Wiman is now on the faculty of Yale University, where he teaches courses on Religion and Literature at Yale Divinity School and the Yale Institute of Sacred Music. His particular interests include modern poetry, the language of faith, “accidental” theology (that is, theology conducted by unexpected means), and what it means to be a Christian intellectual in a secular culture. Born on August 31, 1966, in West Texas, poet, editor, and essayist Christian Wiman earned his BA from Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, in 1988. In 2005, on his thirty-ninth birthday, Wiman was diagnosed with Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia, an incurable form of blood cancer. Wiman’s poetry and prose frequently address the disease and his response to it, as well as questions of theology and faith, life and death.

Bishop Jake Owensby is our Faith Forum guest. Jake Owensby is the Bishop of the Episcopal Church in Western Louisiana, an author, and a speaker. His work explores the spirituality of everyday life. In both his writing and his speaking, Jake seeks to help others experience for themselves where God is in their ordinary, sometimes messy lives. The most recent of his six books is Looking for God in Messy Places: A Book about Hope.

A Faith Forum conversation led by The Reverend Chip Edens and Liz Clasen-Kelly, CEO of Roof Above.

A Faith Forum conversation with The Reverend Stuart Hoke, led by The Reverend Connor Gwin.

What do we do when life comes crumbling down around us? How do we rebuild our lives and find hope in the wake of loss? On August 23, 2011, a rare 5.8-magnitude earthquake shook the foundations of the National Cathedral, causing significant damage. At that moment, so much seemed lost. In the face of seemingly insurmountable costs, could the cathedral rebuild or would it need to be closed? The Very Reverend Randolph “Randy” Marshall Hollerith, who was named the 11th Dean of Washington National Cathedral in 2016, was called to lead the effort to rebuild the cathedral. The work is truly remarkable rebuilding the Cathedral’s foundations with a new vision for the role it can have in the spiritual life of our nation.The Reverend Chip Edens and Dean Hollerith explore the spiritual lessons learned about what to do when life falls apart.

Minister, musician, and musicologist Braxton D. Shelley is a tenured associate professor of sacred music and of divinity in the Department of Music at the Institute of Sacred Music and Yale’s Divinity School. A musicologist who specializes in African American popular music, his research and critical interests, while especially focused on African American gospel performance, extend into media studies, sound studies, phenomenology, homiletics, and theology. 

Dr. Susan Golden is the author of the book Stage (Not Age),  and also serves as an advisor to startup companies focused on healthy aging and longevity. Susan holds a Doctor of Science in Health Services from Harvard University School of Public Health, and a Master of Public Health from Boston University Medical School.

Lisa Miller, Ph.D., is the New York Times bestselling author of The Spiritual Child and The Awakened Brain. Dr. Miller is a professor in the Clinical Psychology Program at Teachers College, Columbia University, the Founder and Director of the Spirituality Mind Body Institute, the first Ivy League graduate program and research institute in spirituality and psychology and has held over a decade of joint appointments in the Department of Psychiatry at Columbia University Medical School. Her innovative research has been published in more than one hundred peer-reviewed articles in leading journals, including Cerebral Cortex, The American Journal of Psychiatry, and the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.Dr. Miller is Editor of the Oxford University Press Handbook of Psychology and Spirituality|(Editions One and Two) Founding Co-Editor-in-Chief of the APA journal Spirituality in Clinical Practice, an elected Fellow of The American Psychological Association (APA) and the two-time President of the APA Society for Psychology and Spirituality. A graduate of Yale University and University of Pennsylvania, where she earned her doctorate under the founder of positive psychology, Martin Seligman, she has served as Principal Investigator on multiple grant funded research studies. Dr. Miller speaks and consults around The Awakened Brain and The Spiritual Child for the US Military, businesses (including tech, finance, HR, and sales), personal development, faith-based organizations, schools and universities, and for mental health and wellness initiatives. She is married to Philip, with whom together they have three children.

How do we know if we are being faithful? How do we know if we are practicing our faith adequately? Just as doctors measure vital signs when determining the health of the body|so we must learn to recognize the vital signs of the life of the spirit as we move into a post-Christian age.The Very Reverend Kate Moorehead Carroll contends the same is true for our spiritual health and offers thoughtful and challenging ways to measure the vital signs of faith so we might improve our spiritual health and find again the essence of our life together|the breath of God in each of us.Carroll is the tenth Dean of St. John's Episcopal Cathedral in Jacksonville|FL. As Dean of St. John’s Cathedral in Jacksonville|Kate has helped to form a non-profit to develop their neighborhood|calling over 40 million dollars in residential investment to the heart of the city. She is the author of eight books|including Vital Signs of Faith: Finding Health in your Spiritual Life| Angels of the Bible| Resurrecting Easter|and Healed: The Truth about Mary Magdalene.

The Reverend Dr. Paul Wallace is a teacher, pastor, scientist, writer, and speaker. He currently teaches physics and astronomy at Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia, and serves as Pastor for Adult Education at First Baptist Church of Decatur. Paul writes and speaks at the intersection of faith and science. This topic often gets bogged down in conflict, jargon, and pointy-headedness, and he loves humanizing it and taking it to non-specialists. Join us for this fascinating conversation.

Brian McLaren’s latest book, Do I Stay Christian? addresses in public the powerful question that surprising numbers of people - including pastors, priests, and other religious leaders - are asking in private. Picking up where Faith After Doubt leaves off, Do I Stay Christian? combines McLaren's own experience with that of thousands of people who have confided in him over the years to help readers make a responsible, honest, ethical decision about their religious identity.

Zach Gottlieb is the 17-year-old founder of "Talk With Zach," a Gen Z movement and community that hosts important conversations to change the culture, inspire activism, and make the world a better place. "Talk with Zach" has been featured in TIME, TODAY, Katie Couric Media, The Huffington Post, and Challenge Success, among others. His motto: “We can’t change what we don’t talk about.” The Reverend Connor Gwin and the Christ Church Youth Council host a conversation with Zach on teen mental health.

Dr. Lisa Strohman discusses mental wellness as it relates to our digital lives. Strohman is widely known for her advocacy and education on this topic|and has worked with thousands of parents|schools|and children around the globe. An attorney|clinical psychologist|and author|Dr. Strohman is the founder and director of Digital Citizen Academy|one of the first organizations to address the global issue of technology addiction and overuse. As a licensed clinical psychologist|Dr. Strohman has spent more than a decade working with individual|family and adolescent clients struggling with issues including depression|anxiety|addiction and technology overuse.

A panel discussion with local nonprofits about the current trends in mental health|addiction|and more for teens and adults in Charlotte. 

Eric Liu is co-founder and CEO of Citizen University|which works to build a culture of powerful and responsible citizenship in the United States. He also directs the Aspen Institute’s Citizenship & American Identity Program|and is the author of several acclaimed books. Liu served as a White House speechwriter for President Bill Clinton and as the President’s deputy domestic policy adviser. He was later appointed by President Obama to serve on the board of the Corporation for National and Community Service. He and his family live in Seattle.

Susan Golden joins The Reverend Chip Edens for a conversation on the opportunities and challenges of adapting to new stages of life, especially as lifespans lengthen and resources for aging become more widely available.

Dr. Marisa G. Franco is a psychologist and friendship expert. Her psychology practice and research focus on the powerful role of friends in shaping who we are and why we flourish. She and The Reverend Chip Edens discuss her new book "Platonic: How the Science of Attachment Can Help You Make—and Keep—Friends."

James Alison is considered one of the world’s preeminent theologians. Educated at Oxford University, his work focuses on themes of God's unconditional love, listening to voices on the margins, and the importance of embodying the values of grace, forgiveness, and mercy in the Christian community. In 2009, Alison was dismissed from Catholic clerical status for being gay, forbidding him from teaching, preaching, or presiding. Upon learning this news, Pope Francis called Alison and told him, "I want you to walk with deep interior freedom, following the Spirit of Jesus. And I give you the power of the keys." James resumed his work teaching, writing books, and serving as retreat leader. He is the author of Knowing Jesus, Raising Abel; The Joy of Being Wrong; Faith Beyond Resentment; On Being Liked; Undergoing God; Broken Hearts; and New Creations. James' books have been translated into Spanish, Italian, Dutch, French, Russian, and Portuguese.

Barbara Brown Taylor is an Episcopal priest, professor, theologian, New York Times best-selling author, and one of the United States' best known preachers. In 2014|TIME magazine placed her in its annual TIME 100 list of most influential people in the world. She has been an Avon lady, a cocktail waitress, a horseback riding instructor, and a hospital chaplain, but her favorite job was teaching world religions at Piedmont College for twenty years before putting the chalk down in 2017. Her latest book, Always a Guest: Speaking of Faith Far From Home was released in October 2020. Barbara now divides her time between writing, speaking, and caring for the land on which she lives. Taylor and her husband Ed live on a farm in the foothills of the Appalachians, sharing space with wild turkeys, red foxes, white-tailed deer and far too many chickens.

Lisa Miller, Ph.D., is Professor of Psychology and Education at Columbia University, Teachers College and is Founder of the Spirituality Mind Body Institute, the first Ivy League graduate program in spirituality and psychology.Dr. Miller is a foremost scientist on spirituality across the lifespan, with her work published in top research journals including JAMA-Psychiatry, American Journal of Psychiatry, and the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. Her innovative research has focused on quantifiable effects of spirituality in health, resilience and thriving, and an overall sacred and joyful life. Her clinical and consultation work focuses on spiritual awareness and spiritual growth.Dr. Miller's latest book, The Awakened Brain: The New Science of Spirituality and Our Quest for an Inspired Life, was published in August 2021. Weaving her own deeply personal journey of awakening with her groundbreaking research, Dr. Miller’s book reveals that humans are universally equipped with a capacity for spirituality, and that our brains become more resilient and robust as a result of it.

Kate Bowler, PhD, is an associate professor of the history of Christianity in North America at Duke Divinity School. She is the author of Blessed: A History of the American Prosperity Gospel, which traces the history of the movement based on divine promises of health, wealth, and happiness. After being unexpectedly diagnosed with Stage IV cancer at age 35|she penned the New York Times bestselling memoir, Everything Happens for a Reason (and other lies I’ve loved). Dr. Bowler subsequently staged a national conversation on speaking frankly about suffering through her popular podcast, "Everything Happens."

Annette Gordon-Reed is an American historian and law professor. She is currently the Charles Warren Professor of American Legal History at Harvard University. Gordon-Reed is noted for changing scholarship on Thomas Jefferson regarding his relationship with Sally Hemings and her children. She was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for History and the National Book Award for Nonfiction and 15 other prizes in 2009 for her work on the Hemings family of Monticello.

Rob Mendez sounds like any other football coach on any other field across America — passionate, authoritative, knowledgeable — but he is like no other coach you know. Coach Rob has no arms or legs. He moves in a custom-made wheelchair that he operates with his shoulders. Coach Rob diagrams plays on a smartphone attached to the chair, using a stylus that he maneuvers with his mouth. Coach Rob first learned football playing Madden video games, and that is just one incredible detail of his remarkable story. Born without limbs, an extremely rare condition called Tetra-amelia, Coach Rob has been beating the odds for 30 years.